PRN Leadership

Is Teaching a “Class” a Big Mistake?

http://bit.ly/ch37xX

The premise is that if we keep locking ourselves into the mindset of 1 teacher for every 25-30 kids we are limiting the ability to personalize learning for students and the opportunity for teachers to work in teams.

Master Classroom: Designs Inspired by Creative Minds: http://bit.ly/bINb14

This article contains some important things for the district to keep in mind as we plan for “learning space” in the Enerplex.

To be ready for the disruptive change that is needed we need to listen to Yoda’s advice to Luke.

http://tinyurl.com/2d736l2

Sometimes “unlearning” is more of a challenge than learning.

One Principal’s Approach to Cell Phones in Classrooms: http://bit.ly/93nJxl

He calls for creative ways to use them as learning tools instead of banning them.

B.C. educator Anita Strang’s blog regarding UDL…

http://anitas.edublogs.org/

Some people are worried that the leading educational reformers (not necessarily educators) in the USA are “Champions of the Wrong Theory of Learning” http://bit.ly/bnifn3

The concern is that they favour Theory T which implies that students are empty vessels needing to be filled up by their teachers.  Paulo Friere called this the nutritionist model…  Kids are crammed full and then they regurgitate the information back onto a test form (mostly leaving them empty again!).

Theory R is 21st century… it calls for project based learning, apprenticeships, and hands-on opportunities.

We need Theory R sooner than later…

Please take the 4 minutes that it takes to watch this video overview of UDL (Universal Design for Learning):  http://tinyurl.com/2uwunkt

It is becoming more and more clear that there should be no such term as “Special Ed.”

A new pedagogical DNA is required in the 21st Century.

Here is a 2 minute video to make you think… http://tinyurl.com/3yw448z

In June we were given the go-ahead to create 12,000 sq/ft of Community Learning Center in the “Enerplex”. We are looking for feedback and ideas.  The following link is one way to do that:http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/Espe-a

As a new school year starts please make two lists for yourself…

1.  “Make a careful list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others, ever.”

2.  “Make a list of things done for you that you loved. Do them for others, always.”

This is advice that comes from Dee Hock, the founder of VISA.